Moistening device



n Nov, 24, 194.2. E. wlLDERsoN 2,303,135

MoIsTENING DEVICE Figed May 1o, 1939 4 ysmetta-sheet 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov.24, 1942. E. wlLDERsoN MOISTENING DEVICE Filed May 10, 1959 j Elf' fzlderfon Nov. 24, 1942. EfwlLDl-:RsoN f 2,303,185

MOISTENING DEVICE l Filed May l0, 1959 v 4 Sheets-Shea? 4 Jl JZ L Y v /00 102 J3' 9.9 27 fg@ 91 5 I Z Z5 l i 7% vivier/s Patented Nov. 24, 1942 MOISTENING DEVICE Eli Wilderson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Ditto, In-

corporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of West Virginia Application May 10, 1939, Serial No.'272,829

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to moistening means and is particularly adapted to be embodied in liquid-process duplicating machines to meisten copy sheets with a solvent for copying ink.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide an improved means for applying a thin lm of solvent to copy sheets as they are advanced to contact a master sheet in a duplieating machine of thev type wherein the data to be duplicated is typed or written in reverse with copying ink on a master sheet, and the copy sheets after being moistened with solvent for the copying ink, are brought into contact one by one with the master sheet. Itis also a purpose of this invention to provide an improved means for distributing moistening liquid to a roller which, in turn, transfers the liquid g to a copy sheet.

It is a further and more particular object of the present invention to provide improved moistening means for applying a solvent to copy sheets, which moistening means comprises a moistening roller adapted to engage the copy sheets and a novel distributing means for distributing liquid to the moistening roller, which novel distributing means includes a narrow channel extending from a liquid supply container downwardly toward the roller and a screen in said channel held between the walls thereof, said l' screen being of relatively fine mesh so as to distribute the liquid throughout the channel and control the ow thereof to the roller.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved means for applying a thin lm of solvent to copy sheets, which improved means comprises a roller adapted to engage the copy sheets, a'wiper engaging' the roller and adapted to limit the liquid on the roller to a thin film, and a distributing channel for distributing liquid to the roller, which channel includes a screen held between theopposed walls of the channel.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully as the description Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3; Y Fig. 5 is a smaller sectional view showing. the relation of the moistening means to the duplicating apparatus, this sectional view being yalso Fig. 8 is a sectional View similar to Fig.

illustrating a further modication ofthe inveny tion; and

Fig. 9 is asectional view taken substantially on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8;

proceeds, reference being had to the accompany- I ing drawings wherein a preferred form of the invention is shown. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken Referring now to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, wherein a machine embodying a preferred form of the invention is illustrated, reference character I0 designates the Vframe of a duplicating machine in which a duplicating drum II is journalled for rotation. The drum II is adapted yto carry a master sheet I2 uponwhich the data to be duplicated is printed, written or typewritten in reverse. One edge of the master sheet I2 is se,- cured in a groove I3 provided in thev periphery of the drum II. As is customary in machines of this type, suitable gripping means (not shown) are adapted to .-releasably hold themaster sheet I2 inthe groove I3. y

As shown best in Fig. 1, a gear I4 is fixed to the drum Il so as to rotate therewith. The

1 gear I4 is drivenfrom a drive shaft I5 through surface of the drum II and to press copy sheets against the master sheet I 2-when the copy sheets areV advanced to the platen roller. Theplaten roller -I8 is journalled in suitable levers I9, one of whichl is shown 4in Fig. 1; the other, of course, .being directly behind the one shown in Fig. 1 and at the opposite side of the frame I0. The levers I9 are mounted upon a shaft 20 and are adjustable about the shaft 20 as a pivot to vary the pressure of the platen roller against the drum. The platen roller is driven by frictional engagement with the drum I I or with the sheets thereon. A sheet receiving tray 2| is mounted inthe frame I0, one end of the tray being supported lby the shaft 20. A copyO sheet feed tray22 is sup? ported in the frame l0. Sheets may be supplied from the tray 22 to combined moistening and feed rollers 23 and 24. Feed roller 23 is adapted to be driven from the gear |4 by a pinion 215 which is journaled on a stub shaft 26 carried by the frame I0. The pinion meshes with another pinion 21 which is xed to the roller 23. The feed roller 23 is also a moistening roller. It is preferably formed from elastic material such as solid neoprene or rubber which is relatively hard. A `cooperating roller 24 is preferably formed of a sponge type of neoprene or rubber so that it is somewhat porous. The roller 24 is journaled in two arms 28. The arms 28 are xed to a rotatable shaft 29. One of the arms 28 has an extension 3|] to which a spring 3! is adjustably attached. The spring 3| is secured to the frame I0 by means of a pin 32 and is under tension so that it tends to press the roller 24 upwardly against the roller 23.

A moistening liquid supply tank 33 is mounted in the frame IIJ and is adapted to hold a supply of moistening liquid for the copy sheets. A pump comprising a cylinder 34 and a piston 35 acts to pump the liquid from the tank 33 upwardly to a position where it can be utilized to meisten the roller 23. An outlet 36 from the cylinder 34. leads through a check valve 31 and a flexible conduit 38 to a distributor pipe 33. The pump piston 35 is operated from a cam 40 which rotates with the drum Il. A cam lever 4| has a roller 42 in engagement with the cam 4.0. The lever 4| is pivoted on a shaft 43 which also is the pivot for the lever 44 that is connected directly to the piston 35. A spring 45 in the cylinder 34 presses the piston 35 downwardly and the lever 44 is adapted to raise the piston once for each rotation of the drum. A spring 46 engages the lever 4| so as to maintain the roller 42 against the cam 40.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, the moistening means by which the liquid from the pipe 39 is distributed to the roller 23 will be described. The moistener frame comprises a chanel shaped supporting bracket 41 which is pivotally mounted on the frame l0 by two flanges 48 and 49 having pins 50 and 5| that are journaled in posts 52 and 53 mounted on the opposite side walls of the frame I0. Within the bracket 41- a channel shaped plate 54 is pivoted by means of a pivot pin 55 mounted in the bracket 41 midway between its ends and two ears 56 and 51 which are formed on the plate 54.

A rectangular container 58 is mounted around the pipe 38 and has a channel 59 extending downwardly therefrom. The channel 59 is formed by two extended walls 60 and 6| of the container 58. A sheet 52 of rubber` is interposed between the wall 60 and the plate 54. This rubber sheet 62 projects downwardly below the wall 60 where it engages the surface of the roller 23. The walls 60 and 6I terminate slightly above the adjacent surface of the roller 23 so that liquid passed downwardly between these walls will fall into a trough 63 that is formed by the roller 23 and the sheet 62.

In order to adequately distribute and limit the fiow of moistening liquid through the channel 59 a screen 64 extends from the container 58 downwardly through the channel 58. The screen 64 is preferably a relatively fine mesh material screen that will not corrode in the solvent liquid employed. As an example of the size of mesh found suitable, a screen of 6i) to 100 mesh is entirely satisfactory. The screen 64 is clamped between the walls 60 and 6| by a block 65 which extends lengthwise beneath the container 58 and is secured to the plate 54 by suitable screws 66.

The` plate 54 and the rubber sheet 62 being pivoted on the pin 55 wil1.follow the line of the roller 23 when they are pressed against the roller. rlhe pipe 39 is held in the container 58 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4 by a shoulder 61 at one end, a flange 58 at its other end, and a screw 69 closing the end of the pipe 39. Sealing members 10 and 1| seal the ends of the container 58 around the pipe 38. The pipe 39 is, of course, provided with one or more apertures 12 for delivering liquid into the container 58.

In order to press the rubber sheet 62 yieldingly against the roller 23 the bracket 41 is mounted to swing around its pivots 50 and 5| and spring means are provided for urging the bracket 41 in the proper direction to press the sheet 62 against the roller 23. The spring means comprises a spring 13, one end of which is secured to a pin 14 on the frame l0. The spring 13 is wound around the post 52 and its other end is hooked around a plate 15 which is `pivoted about the pivot 50 for the bracket 41. The plate 15 carries a pin 16 which engages an adjustable screw 11 that is xed to an arm 18 extending upwardly and rearwardly from the bracket 41.

The weight of the moistening mechanism comprising the bracket 41 and plate 54 together with the various parts mounted on the plate 54, will tend to swing the rubber sheet 62 away from the roller 23. However, the force of the spring 13 is exerted through the plate 15, the pin 16 and the screw 11 to overcome this tendency. By adjusting the screw 11 the relative positions of the bracket 41 and the plate 15 may be changed to increase or decrease the pressure of the rubber sheet 62 against the roller 23.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and '7, in this form of the invention a modied moistening means embodying the same principle is shown. The bracket 41 in this case carries a pivot pin 55 which supports a channel shaped member 80. The channel j shaped member carries ra sponge rubber sheet 8| that is adapted to directly engage the roller 23. The member 80 has ilanges 82 which eX- tend toward the roller 23 at each end of the moistener and which are adapted to support a distributing tube 83. is fitted over the pipe 38 which is mounted therein by a screw 84 and suitable packing 85 similar to that used to mount the pipe 39 in the container '58. The distributing tube 83 has a plurality of apertures 86 along the length thereof, which apertures are directed toward the sponge rubber sheet 8|. -A curved plate 81 is curved to engage the tube -83 and is welded to the end flanges 82. The plate 81 extends downwardly from the tube 83 -alongside the sponge rubber sheet 8| to provide a channel 88 between the plate 81 and the sponge rubber sheet 8|. A fine mesh wire screen 89 similar to that shown in the preferred form of the invention has its upper end mounted on the tube 83 and extends downwardly into the channel 88. This screen, being held between the sponge rubber sheet l8| and the plate 81, acts to limit the passage of liquid through the channel 88 and to distribute the liquid throughout the length of the channel in a uniform manner. Th-e liquid in the channel 88 feeds down along the surface of the sheet 8| into contact with the roller 23. It will be understood, of course, that the pressure of the sheet 8| against the roller 23 may be The distributing tube 83A varied in this modication'the same as in the preferred form of the invention. f

Referring now to Figs.`8 and 9, in these figures a further modification of the invention'is shown. The roller 23 is engaged'by a wiping roller90 which has longitudinally extending,spaced, fine grooves 9| in the periphery thereof. The roller 90 is desirably made of materials like tha-t of the roller-23. A shaft 92 for the roller 90 is mounted in two bearing blocks 93 and 94 on the frame lll. Adjusting screws 95 and 96 are provided in the bearing blocks 93 and 94 for adjusting the roller 90 with respect to the roller 23 so as to vary the pressure between the rollers. A moistening channel 91 is provided between two plates 98 and 99 which are bevelled at their lower edges and extend down close to the meeting line of the rollers 90 and 23. The plates S8 and 99 are'suspended by two brackets and IBI which extend in from the side walls of the frame I0 upon which f they are mounted. Each of the brackets Ill@ and IOI has a U-shaped portion tting over the outside of the plates 98 and 99. `":lcrew bolts |92 and |93 pass through the brackets and the plates to hold the plates in position. The plates 98 and 99 have their upper edges |04 and |95 bevelled to provide a trough directly over the channel 91.. A -distributing tube |91 is provided around the pipe 39 and has a multiplicity of apertures V|98 in the bottom thereof so as to discharge liquid downwardly into the trough |05 throughout the length of thetube |01. The pipe 39 and the tube |01 are carried between an arm |09 on the bracket IIlI and a spring pressed cap III) which engages a screw III closing the end of the tube The cap III) is hollowed out on its end to provide a seat for the screw l I I. is slidable on a reduced portion II2 of a pin H3 mounted in the adjacent side of the frame I Il. A spring IIA in the cap III) keeps it in engagement with the screw I I I.

The `operation of the modification rshown in Figs. 8 and 9 is believed to be apparent from the foregoing description. It will be understood that liquid is fed to the pipe 39 from a tank such as the tank 33 in measured quantities. The liquid is sprayed in the channel l91 and limited in its downward flow by a screen II5. This screen, like the screens in the other two forms of the invention, is desirably composed of a suitable mar terial which is non-corrosive in the solvent used and which is of suitable mesh to limit the liquid flow in the channel 91 to the desired degree.

While there have been shown and described certain embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that it is capable -of many modifications. Changes, therefore, may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described in the appended claims, in which it is the intention to claim all novelty inherent in the invention as Vbroadly as possible, in View of the prior art.

I`claim:

l. In a duplicating machine, means for moistening copy sheets comprising a roller adapt-ed to engage the copy sheets, an elongated container adjacent to said roller, means providing a channel leading downwardly from said container toward the roller, and a fine mesh screen held flat between the walls of said channel for controlling the movement of water downwardly between said walls.

2. In a duplicating machine, means for moistening copy sheets comprising a roller adapted to engage the copy sheets, a source of liquid, a

The cap I Il)` channel receivingl liquid from said source and 'adapted to condut the liquidA tosaid roller, and a fine mesh screen held flat in said channel and ex- -tending in the direction in which the liquid passes through the channel.

channel receiving liquid from said source and adapted to conduct the liquid to said roller, and

ya line mesh screen in said channel, said screen being held flat by the opposed walls of said chan-4 nel. i

4. In a duplicating machine, means for moistening copy sheets comprising a roller adapted `to engage the copy sheets, a source of liquid, a

channel receiving liquid Vfrom saidy source and adapted to conduct the liquid-to said roller, a

wiper engaging said roller below the channel, and a fine mesh screen held' flat in said channel and extending in the direction in which the liquid passes through the channel.

5. In a moistening device for copy sheets, liquid distributing means comprising an elongated narrow channel, means to supply liquid to said channel, and a linev mesh wire screen gripped flat between the walls of said channel and adapted to distribute the liquid uniformly throughout the channel as it moves downwardly therethrough. f f

6. In a moistening device for copy sheets, liquid distributing means comprising an elongated vnarrow channel, means to supply liquid to said channel, and a line mesh wire screen held between the walls of said channel and adapted to distribute the `liquid uniformly throughout the channel, one wall of said channel being composed of a yielding material.

f7. A moistening device for copy sheets comprising a moistening roller, a bracket alongside said roller, a plate pivoted intermediate its ends to said bracket and lying between the bracket and the roller, a wiper sheet carried by saidl plate, and engaging said roller, and a liquid distributing device' feeding liquid to said roller in advance of said wiper sheet, said liquid supply device comprising a wire mesh screen, side walls conning said screen between them, and means to feed liquid between said side walls.

8. A moistening device for copy sheets comprising a moistening roller, a bracket alongside said roller, a plate pivoted intermediate its ends to said bracket and lying between the bracket and the roller, and a liquid distributing device feeding liquid to said roller, said liquid supply device comprising a wire mesh screen, side walls of said wiper sheet, said liquid supply devicev comprising a wire mesh screen, side walls confining said screen between them, and. means to f feed liquid between said side walls, said last named means comprising a liquid container from which said side walls depend.

10. A moistening device for copy sheets comprising a moistening roller, .a wiper engaging the roller, and a liquid supply'device adapted to ideliver liquid to said roller .in advance of its engagement with the sheet, said device including a screen, side walls engaging the .opposite sides of said screen and providing therewith a channel, and means to vfeed liquid into said channel, -said wiper comprising a roller having iine longitudinal grooves therein.

11. A moistening device for copy sheets .comprising a moistening roller, and a liquid supply device adapted to deliver liquid to said roller in advance of its engagement with the sheet, said device including a screen, side walls lengaging the opposite sides of said screen and providing therewith a channel with one of said side walls in the form of a rubber sheet wiper engaging said roller, and means to feed liquid into said channel.

12. A moistening device for copy sheets comprising a moistening roller, a wiper .engaging the roller, and a liquid supply device adapted to deliver liquid to said roller in advance of its engagement with the sheet, said device including a screen, side walls engaging the opposite sides of said screen and providing therewith a channel, and means to feed liquid into said channel, said wiper comprising a rubber sheet, and said channel comprising two plates, the upper edges of which are sloped inwardly to provide a liquid trough.

13. In a copy sheet moistening means for a liquid-process duplicating machine, the combi- .nation of a roller rotatably mounted on la .horlzontal axis, means cooperating with said roller for forwarding a sheet in contact with the roller, a plate extending normally along the rear face portion of said roller yin backwardly spaced relation thereto and pivotally mounted on a transverse axis so as to be movable angularly with respect to the roller, a wiper having a facing portion of non-absorbent material mounted on the front face of said plate in position for engaging said roller so as to form a trough with the ro1ler,lyie1ding means normally holding said wiper pressed yieldingly against the roller in position for maintaining a pool of liquid in the trough, and means for feeding a supply of liquid into said trough.

145. In a copy sheet moistening means for a liquid-process duplicating machine, the combination of a roller, means for forwarding a copy sheet in contact with the roller, means adapted by engagement with the downwardly moving face portion of said roller to hold -a pool of liquid in the trough between the holding means and the roller, channel means extending along above the roller and having an elongated narrow opening into said trough, and ne mesh wire screen held at in substantially vertical position in said elongated narrow opening adapted to permit liquid to pass downwardly through said opening and adapted to limit the ow of the liquid through the opening.

ELI WILDERSON. 

